Rose plant named ‘ESM R197’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘ESM R197’, characterized by its upright and strong flowering stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; relatively tall flower buds; red-colored flowers; good productivity with about one flowering stem developing per plant each month; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ESM R197’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Roseplant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a cutflower Rose plant, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ESM R197’.

The new Rose plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new cut flower Rose varieties withattractive flowers and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Rose plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2010 of a proprietary Rose selection identified asLine 28, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryRose selection identified as Line 406, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Rose plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in El Quinche,Pichincha, Ecuador in September, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by bud grafting in ElQuinche, Pichincha, Ecuador since October, 2011 has shown that theunique features of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rose have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ESM R197’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ESM R197’ as a new and distinct Rose plant:

-   -   1. Upright and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Relatively tall flower buds.    -   5. Red-colored flowers.    -   6. Good productivity with about one flowering stem developing        per plant each month.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the female parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose have taller flower buds than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Rose have more than twice as        many petals as flowers of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Cut flowering stems of plants of the new Rose last about four        days longer than cut flowering stems of plants of the female        parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Rose and the female parent selection differ        in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have        pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the male parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose are slightly less vigorous as plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Rose have taller flower buds than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Cut flowering stems of plants of the new Rose last about six        days longer than cut flowering stems of plants of the male        parent selection.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of Rosa hybrida‘Freedom’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in ElQuinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Rose differed from plantsof ‘Freedom’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were slightly more vigorous than        plants of ‘Freedom’.    -   2. Plants of the new Rose were more freely branching and        produced more flowering stems per year than plants of ‘Freedom’.    -   3. Plants of the new Rose had taller flower buds than plants of        ‘Freedom’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Rose opened about seven to nine        days quicker than flowers of plants of ‘Freedom’.    -   5. Plants of the new Rose had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Freedom’.    -   6. Cut flowers of plants of the new Rose lasted about eight to        ten days longer than cut flowers of plants of ‘Freedom’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Rose plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Rose plant.

The photograph at the left of the sheet is a side perspective of atypical flowering stem of ‘ESM R197’.

The photograph at the upper right of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical developed flower of ‘ESM R197’.

The photographs at the lower right of the sheet are close-up views ofthe upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘ESM R197’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in 10-liter containers in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador and under typicalhydroponic Rose production practices. Plants were pinched 13 to 14 weeksafter planting and were 46 weeks old when the photographs were taken and89 weeks old when the description was taken. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 12° C. to 16° C. and light levels ranged from800 to 1,200 foot-candles. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida ‘ESM R197’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Rosa hybrida identified Line 28, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Rosa hybrida identified Line 406, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By bud grafting.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 26° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days            at temperatures about 22° C. to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to            N199B in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and strong            flowering stems; typically grown as a standard type;            moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Productivity.—Plants of the new Rose are highly productive            with about 13.08 flowering stems developing per plant per            year.        -   Plant height.—About 136 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 63 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: Freely branching habit with            about 18 lateral branches developing per plant. Length:            About 128 cm. Diameter: About 7.4 mm. Internode length:            About 5.6 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; older stems, woody.            Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Color: Close to 146B            and N199C. Thorns: Density: Moderate to abundant. Shape:            Triangular with sharp acuminate apices; slightly incurved.            Height: About 8.7 mm. Length, at base: About 8.9 mm. Color,            immature: Close to 187C. Color, mature: Close to 185A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically seven            leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length.—About 16.7 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 10.2 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 4.9 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 3 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            papery to coriaceous.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            N77A and 147A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to            N199A and 59A. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close            to 139A; venation, close to 146A and N77A. Fully expanded            leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to            146B.        -   Petioles, leaves.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            1.9 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            166A and 199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Petioles, leaflets.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            166A and 199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 148D.        -   Stipules.—Arrangement and appearance: Two, adnate to the            petiole, leafy in appearance. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width:            About 3.2 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acuminate,            tapered. Base: Tapered. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth; membranous. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Symmetrical rosette flowers;            flowers typically grown as a standard type with one terminal            flower per flowering stem; flowers face upright.        -   Flowering season.—Plants of the new Rose flower year-round            under greenhouse conditions; early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about 78 days after pinching.        -   Flower diameter.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.8 cm.        -   Flower longevity.—Excellent postproduction longevity;            flowers maintain good substance for about 20 to 22 days on            the plant and for about 16 to 18 days as a cut flower;            flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant.        -   Flower buds.—Rate of opening: About 18 to 20 days. Length:            About 6.6 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color:            Close to 146B and 199A.        -   Petals.—Quantity: About 50 per flower; petals imbricate.            Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 6.15 cm. Shape: Nearly            round; transversely ovate. Apex: Blunt to short acute. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; papery to coriaceous. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 53A; towards the base, close to            145C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 60A; towards the            base, close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            46A; towards the base, close to 1C. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 53B; towards the base, close to 154D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity: About five; whorled. Length: Variable.            Width: Variable. Shape: Irregularly shaped. Apex: Blunt to            short acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Mostly uneven. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; papery to            coriaceous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 53A and 155A. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 53A and 155C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 5.18 cm. Width: About 1.24 cm. Shape:            Roughly deltoid. Apex: Tapered. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire; ciliate and/or glandular. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Leathery. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 146A to 146D. When opening, lower surface: Close to            146B and 145A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146A            and 145B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146A and            145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 223 per            flower. Anther length; About 3.2 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.            Anther color: Close to 21B and 20D. Filament color: Close to            160A and 184C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 167B. Pistils: Quantity: About 265 per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Broadly reniform. Stigma            color: Close to 160A. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color:            Close to 39C and 160D. Receptacle height: About 1.2 cm.            Receptacle diameter: About 1.33 cm. Receptacle shape:            Cup-shaped. Receptacle texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle            color: Close to 144A. Fruits: Length: About 2.8 cm.            Diameter: About 2.3 cm. Texture: Slightly rough. Color:            Close to 167A and N144A. Seeds: Quantity per fruit:            About 16. Length: About 7.9 mm. Diameter: About 4.4 mm.            Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to 151B and 160C.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have been observed    to have moderate tolerance to Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew and    Botrytis. Plants of the new Rose have not been observed to be    tolerant to pests and other pathogens common to Rose plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from 0° C. to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘ESM R197’ asillustrated and described.